THEY are the faces of hope. Three hospice patients are fronting a new campaign asking people to consider leaving a legacy to care for others.

Pictures, along with words from the three patients, will feature on bus stops, posters, leaflets and radio adverts during East Lancashire Hospice’s Legacy of Love campaign, which launches on September 28.

Darwen resident Jackie Rigby, Ian Edge from Blackburn and Iain Moore, also from Blackburn, were chosen to head up the campaign and share their experiences of using the hospice.

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Mother-of-seven Mrs Rigby, 47, said the hospice provided a haven for her to talk openly about her condition.

She said: “At home I can’t talk about cancer, but at the hospice we even have a laugh about it.

“It might sound strange but because we’re all living with it or other illnesses we understand how each other feels.”

Mr Moore, 50, a father-of-two, said he owed a lot to the hospice. He added: “It’s taken the worst part of my life to meet the greatest friends I’ve known at the hospice. I couldn’t do without the emotional support and the practical help I get.”

Former BAE Systems worker, Mr Edge, 65, has stayed on the hospice’s inpatient unit and attended creative and support therapies weekly.

He said he was honoured to be part of raising awareness of the hospice.

He said: “It’s time people woke up to how good the hospice is. I was reluctant to go to the hospice when it was first mentioned to me because I pictured going through the doors and not coming out, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.”

The campaign follows research by Remember a Charity which revealed 35 per cent of those over 60 who haven’t included a charitable donation in their will said that they would consider doing so.

The research also found that 28 per cent of people aged 60 or over have not written a will.

East Lancashire Hospice’s head of marketing Beth Shutt said the campaign aimed to get people thinking about supporting the hospice in their will.

She said: “By showing people what real patients have gained from the hospice being here it puts hospice support into context.

“They aren’t leaving money to a building. It’s going to make a difference to the mums, dads, brothers, sisters, grandparents with life-limiting illnesses and supporting them and their families to live as best they can.”

The posters feature a quote from each of the patients about the difference the hospice has made to them.

To request a will week pack go to eastlancshospice.org.uk or call 01254 287010.

Roebucks Solicitors are holding a free drop-in event for anyone who would like to know more about wills and legacies.

This takes place on Thursday October 15 at the hospice on Park Lee Road, Blackburn.

More information can be found at www.alegacyoflove.org.uk or by calling Sharon on 01254 287010. All calls are treated confidentially.

East Lancashire Hospice’s Will week takes place from October 19-23 when solicitors waive their usual fee to write Wills in exchange for a donation to the hospice.

To request a will week pack go to eastlancshospice.org.uk or call 01254 287010.